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Mark 7:24-37 From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." But she answered him, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Then he said to her, "For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter." So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."
What would you do and what would you allow done to you, if you needed healing of a lifetime affliction? A woman with a daughter believed to be possessed by a demon would ask for and probably do anything for her daughter to be healed and delivered from this terrible affliction. A deaf man with a speech impediment, though he could not clearly say, would allow family and friends to seek a healing for him. The first encounters a reluctant Jesus, set on ministry for the Jews, who counters that "even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Such was her desire for her daughter's wholeness. It was enough to convince Jesus and her daughter was healed. The man was brought to Jesus and Jesus takes him aside in private and heals him in an unexpected way, but one that Mark shares with truthfulness. Jesus, ever the Man of touch, puts his fingers in the deaf man's ears, and he spat and put that on the man's tongue. Jesus prays a word prayer, "Ephphatha," which means "be opened," and with that spoke word, is completely healed. If you have ever seen the videos of those who have received those hearing devices placed on their heads and they hear for the first time, you've probably shared a tear or two at seeing these who have lived in silence, now hearing. The one that gets me the most is the one of the little baby who when hearing his mommy's voice get super excited. One can only imagine the reaction of this man, or that mom upon finding her daughter now resting calmly. That's the peace that comes with healing.
Jesus is still the Man of touch. His desire is to touch our lives in areas where we need to be delivered and made whole. It may not be a physical ailment, then again, it might; we have but to ask Jesus for His touch upon our lives and enjoy the results. Is our spirit calm with knowing the presence of Jesus in our lives? Are our ears open to listening to the Word of God and our lips proclaiming our faith and love for God? This may be the place for us to start...
PRAYER: Loving Man and Loving God of touch, touch our lives towards wholeness and healing. May our spirits find rest and peace in Thee, and may our ears be ever ready to listen and our tongues ready to proclaim, our words of praise and peace to those who have not yet heard. This we pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Prayer Requests: For my brother-in-law, Rev. John Warren in Methodist Hospital in Houston, undergoing observation for chest pains. For Rev. Juanita Garcia, who underwent emergency gum surgery this weekend. For Rev. Dale White, who undergoes a PET scan to determine the cause of a fever that won't go away. May these and others in need, be healed in the strong name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
